Kenny Miller looking for Livingston to be ruthless

Posted Sunday, July 22, 2018 by PA

Kenny Miller has called for his Livingston squad to be more clinical in front of goal as the season progresses.

The Livi player-manager got off the mark for his new club with a cool finish in the first half after being put through by Craig Sibbald in a 1-0 win over Annan.

The win sees the Lions, who were reduced to 10 men after Ricki Lamie was sent off, go top of Group F in the Betfred Cup, but it could have been more comfortable after they missed a number of chances to put the game to bed, with Miller himself guilty of hitting the woodwork from close range.

“I am delighted with the result, the character and grit shown, (we are) just looking for that killer instinct which would have put the game to bed,” the 38-year old said.

“Whether it was in the first half or second, there were opportunities where we should have got a second goal.”

He later backtracked, claiming he was happy with the chances created by his players but claimed they had to be more clinical in future matches.

“Killer instinct is maybe the wrong word,” he said. “It’s just taking the chances when they come along because goals change games.

“We have not quite got that breathing space yet.

“You keep creating the chances we are creating, I am happy we will start putting them away.”

After grabbing his first goal for the club and a first goal since April, he added: “I am delighted, it’s always nice to get off the mark at a new club. There probably should have been another in the second half.

“Collectively we need to start being that bit more clinical.”

Annan boss Peter Murphy declared himself pleased despite seeing his side’s winning start in the competition come to an end.

The League Two outfit beat Hamilton last week before seeing off Berwick to go top of the group, but they struggled to create any clear chances against the Premiership outfit.

He said: “I think we feel we could have nicked something.

“If the likes of Livingston are taking off a centre forward and putting on a centre back, they obviously feel they are under pressure.

“We are disappointed to concede a goal from a long ball over the top, but we rode our luck a bit at times. All in all I am pleased with my team.”